Steaming and pressing iron



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 1952 H. MAYKEMPER STEAMING AND PRESSING IRON Filed Nov. 14, 1947 &M

Oct. 28, 1952 H. MAYKEMPER STEAMING AND PRESSING IRON 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1947 [/2 ueizfar: f/erzgy Magy%em be 7 WWW? I Mo.

Patented Oct. 28, 1952 STEAMING AND PRESSING IRON Henry Maykemper, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to National Pressure Cooker Company, Eau Claire, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application November 14, 1947, Serial No. 785,897

Claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my now abandoned application, Serial Number 710,800, filed November 19, 1946.

This invention relates to steam irons and more particularly t the form of steam iron employed for household use.

So called fiat irons or pressing irons having their sole plates directly heated by gas flames, electrical elements, etc., or flat irons intermittently heated from a source removed from the iron, have been in household and commercial use for many years, but their use has nearly always required that the material to be pressed be predampened or sprinkled in order that satisfactory results may be achieved within reasonable periods of time. Sprinkling of clothes is a time consuming operation. Furthermore, it is difiicult to achieve a uniform dampening of the material to be pressed, particularly when the sprinkling operation is carried out by hand. As a result, attempts have been made to provide a pressing iron which will supply steam and heat to the material as pressure is being applied to the iron by the user. Some of the earlier attempts to incorporate a source of steam relied upon a separate source connected to the pressing iron by a flexible conduit such as a hose. While this could be done in commercial establishments, it was impracticable for home use. Furthermore, even if an independent supply of steam were available, there was th inconvenience of having the hose connected to the iron at all times so that it must be pulled around with the iron and yet kept out of the path of the iron. Constant flexing of the hose sometimes resulted in its breaking and burning the user by the released steam.

Ultimately, so-called electric steam irons were developed for home use, which irons carried their own boiler and heated the water and sole plate of the iron by an electrically heated element. Only a flexible electric cord for interconnecting the heating element to a source of power, such as a wall socket, was then required. However, the limitations upon the size and weight of the boiler and other portions of the iron, in order to make the iron saleable to a housewife, meant that the amount of water in the boiler was small and was soon dissipated. Many refillings of the boiler were therefore required during the course of ironing a normal sized family wash. The constant interruption of ironing operations to refill the boiler with water have, therefore, caused many people to avoid purchasing steam irons. The small size of the boiler was not the only cause of the irons running out of water. The construction of such irons was at fault also, since it permitted water and steam to be discharged in an inefficient and uneconomical manner. In fact, the smallness of the boiler would be desirable if some construction could be devised for efiiciently dampening the material to be pressed with a smaller volume of water. Such construction is provided by the steam iron of my invention, as will be pointed out hereinafter.

Since many users of steam irons, such as the irons just referred to, have to use water which contains calcium, magnesium or iron compounds, the large quantities of water which are boiled off by the pressing iron result in large quantities of mineral deposits being formed in the boiler and connected conduits. As a result the boiler and conduits of the iron must be cleaned regularly, or they will become clogged. In the event that they become clogged, the efiiciency of the iron is greatly impaired, and there is the danger of explosion of the boiler.

It is an object of my invention to eliminate, or reduce the extent of, all of the foregoing objectionable features of such irons, and to provide a steam iron which is light-weight and convenient to handle, and which is not substantially larger than the conventional electric pressing iron which has no boiler. The steam iron of my invention may, therefore, be used withno more tiring effect than would be occasioned with an ordinary iron which lacks the steam feature. Most important of all, my iron is very economical in its use of water, and yet provides proper and uniform dampening of the materials to be pressed. This means that the user may employ the steam iron of my invention for extended periods of time before a refilling of the boiler is required. Although some materials may require sprinkling or dampening in addition to the steam, that is true when any steam iron is used.

An actual test, for example, with six ounces of water and a pressure of approximately threetenths pound per square inch, and with the sole plate at 500 F., ironing operations continued for forty-five minutes before the boiler needed refilling with'water. With six ounces of water and a pressure of approximately one-tenth pound per square inch and the sole plate at 300-i00 F., ironing operations continued over two hours before the water in the boiler was exhausted. The 500 F. temperature is suitable for heavy cottons and linens, while the temperature range of 300- 400 F. is suitable for rayon, silk, wool and lightweight cotton.

Since the water is employed more economically, mineral deposits are formed at a much slower rate in the steam iron of my invention. Furthermore, all of the small passageways in the steam iron of my invention are out of contact with raw water, and all minerals which would tend to clog the passageways are left in the boiler as the water is converted to steam. It will be noted that I provide a large and conveniently located opening in the boiler, so that the boiler may be 3 easily and quickly supplied with a measured amount of water, and so that the interior may be more readily dried and cleaned after using. Said opening also provides ready access to inner portions of the mechanism, so that they may be more easily removed.

Steam irons presently being used frequently permit the passage of slugs of Water from the boiler to the material to be pressed, so that excessive dampening of the material results. This may happen, for example, when the iron is tilted, so that water is introduced into the conduit leading directly to the pressing face of the sole plate. This so called spitting of the iron not only wets the material to be pressed an excessive amount, but also causes the boiler to lose its water rapidly. Furthermore, some present forms of steam irons are so constructed that condensate, which may be formed when the generated steam contacts cooler surfaces, runs from the iron and on to the material to be pressed. As mentioned above, this is wasteful of the water, and requires the application of more heat than usual in order to dry and press the material which is being ironed.

It is an additional object of my invention to prevent such loss of water by spitting and condensation, and tosubstitute for such action the even and economical distribution of steam to the material which is to be pressed. In the accomplishment of this object, I provide a structure within the iron which traps slugs of water or condensate, and, in addition, converts the water to steam. In a preferred form of my invention, the structure includes a chamber which atomizes the water trapped therein and serves to convert the water into steam and the steam into superheated steam. In this form the steam is very much thinner and may be dispersed a greater distance over the material before it returns to its liquid state. The atomizing feature may optionally be omitted, but in the embodiment herein disclosed, any condensate in the superheater chamber, or any raw water that enters the chamber is tapped against exit from the superheater chamber, and is converted into steam before it is able to escape.

In its preferred form the chamber also serves as a metallic path for transmitting heat to the water in the boiler for converting it to steam. The chamber also serves as a means for securing the sole plate and boiler together in spaced relation.

Other objects, uses and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a central, sectional view on the line I-l of Figure 2 of the preferred form of steam iron of my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view, on reduced scale and with a portion broken away, of the steam iron of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view showing a modified form of superheater chamber and a modified form of connection between the sole plate and the superheater chamber;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view showing a modified form of superheater chamber, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of another modified form of superheater chamber.

The same reference numerals have been em- 4 ployed in the several views to indicate the same or similar elements wherever practicable.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the steam iron of my inven tion is indicated generally by the reference nu meral l. The steam iron I includes a sole plate 3 having a pressing face 5, and a heating element 1 in heat conducting relation with the sole plate 3. The heating element 7 may take any one of a number of known forms of heating element for electric irons and, as shown, is positioned within the sole plate 3, and through terminals, such as 9a, 9b and 9c, is connected with an electric cord II which is adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy, such as a wall socket (not shown). In series with the heating element 7 is a thermostatic control, indicated generally by the reference numeral I3, which may be manually controlled by means of the control knob 15, positioned on the exterior of the iron beneath the handle H, and a connecting shaft l6. By means of control knob l5 the user of the steam iron may select the temperature to which the sole plate 3 is to be heated and the control l3 then automatically maintains the sole plate at the selected temperature during the ironing operation by suitable thermostatic control.

A heat indicator, indicated generally by the reference numeral l9, has a dial 2! and pointer 23 which are positioned at the top of the handle I! immediately in front of the position at which the operators hand will be located, so that the operator may have at all times a readily visible and true indication of the actual temperature of the sole plate. For further description of the structure of the heat indicator l9, reference may be had to the copending application of Zina Burreson, Serial Number 47,707, filed September The boiler, indicated generally by the reference numeral 25, is connected to the sole plate 3 in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. Boiler 25 is adapted to hold Water which will be converted to steam and eventually be discharged at the face 5 of the sole plate 3. Secured about an aperture 21 at the upper surfaceof'the boiler 25 is a steam dome and filler tube 23 which is positioned at the front end of the steam iron I. At the top of the steam dome 29 there is an opening 31, having a closure member 33 which is adapted to seal the opening 3! so that steam under pressure may exist within the steam dome 29. The closure element or cap 33 is removable, so that a conveniently large inlet is provided for supplying the boiler 25 with water. Arms or lugs 37 carried. by a bracket 35 which is secured to the cap 33 are adapted to be cammed under and engage depending flanges 39 which are formed at the upper end of the steam dome 23. A bottom wall 43 of the boiler 25 is secured, as by welding, to the upper portion 45 where the two portions engage each other. Both the boiler and the dome are constructed of sheet metal stampings secured together as by welding.

It Will be noted that a tubular column 31 passes upwardly through the boiler 25 through which column the shaft 13 of the thermostatic control l3 passes to the manually controlled knob l5. Another tubular column #39 extends upwardly through the boiler 25 and through -a portion of the handle I7 and surrounds a shaft 5| of the heat indicating mechanism Id. The columns 41 and 49 are secured to the boiler 25 in watertight relation. Also secured to the bottom wall 43 of the boiler '25 in water-tight relation is a chamber, indicated generally by the reference numeral 53, which chamber extends up through the boiler and into the steam dome 23. The chamber 53 is adapted to secure the boiler 25 to the sole plate 3 in a manner to be described below, and it will be noted that the boiler 25 has its bottom wall 43 spaced from said sole plate for a purpose also to-be explained hereinafter. The space 55 between sole plate 3 and bottom wall 43 of boiler 25 may consist of an air space or an electrical and heat insulator of a known type. The air space or insulation will, of course, permit some heat to b transferred to boiler 25.

The handle I! is secured to the upper surface of the boiler 25, and has a forward vertically extending tubular portion 51 which encircles the steam dome and filler tube 23. The handle I! is formed of material which is .a poor heat conductor and its connection with the remainder of the iron is such as to reduce to a minimum the intercontacting surfaces of the boiler and handle. The handle I! is hollow and has an aperture 59 through which the electric cord II extends, so that it may be connected to the terminal plate 31 inside of the handle.

Referring now moreparticularly to the chamber 53 it will be seen that it comprises a tubular portion 63, internally threaded at its upper and lower ends. The lower end 65 is of reduced cross section, so as to provide a shoulder 31, which engages the bottom wall 43 of the boiler 25. It will be seen that the lower reduced end 35 of chamber 53 is adapted to fit Within an opening 59 formed in the sole plate 3, without contacting theside walls of said opening. A spacer ring H, which is a heat conductonis interposed between the under surface of bottom wall 33 of the boiler 25 and the upper surface of the sole plate 3 and, as mentioned above, heat and electrical insulating material may be placed in the space between said surfaces. Threaded into the lower reduced end 35 of chamber 53 is a screw plug 13 the head of which plug bears against a shoulder 15 formed in the enlarged end or counterbore of the opening 39 in sole plate 3. The contact between the head of plug 13 and the shoulder 15 on the sole plate 3 seals oif opening 39 in the sole plate and also permits heat to be conducted from said sole plate to the plug and from the plug to the lower reduced end 65 of chamber'53 by reason of the threaded connection between plug 13 and the lower end 65 of the chamber 53. Ring 'II, which spaces the bottom wall 43 of the boiler 25 from the top surfaces of the sole plate 3, contacts the lower end of chamber 53, the top of the sole plate 3, and also the bottom wall .43 of the boiler 25. Heat may therefore be conducted from the heating element 1 in sole plate 3 through the head of plug I5 and also through the ring II to the lower end of chamber 53. The heat is then transmitted by and through the walls of the tubular portion 63 of chamber 53 to the water in boiler 25 and also to any water or steam which is within the chamber 53. From this arrangement it Will be seen that there is a conductive path for heat from sole plate 3 to the water in contact with the wall of chamber 53 inside of boiler 25. Some heat is,

of course, transmitted from the sole plate 3 across th space 55 or insulation placed therein.

However, a substantial part of the heat transmitted to the water in boiler 25 comes from the sole plate 3 through the lower end 65 of the chamber 53. In one form of my invention the iron may be so constructed that the major porticn, or substantially all, of the heat is transmitted to the water in the boiler along that route. In such case, the insulation in space 55 is made thicker, and the peripheral contact of the boiler housing with the sole plate is reduced. It will be understood, of course, that the thickness of the insulation employed between the sole plate and boiler aifects the amount of heat transmitted to the boiler, but cculdnot, in practical application, totally prevent the transfer of heat directly from the sole plate to the bottom wal1 33"of the boiler. The ratio of heat transmitted to the water through the chamber 33 may, therefore, be greater or less. In all forms of my invention, violent general boiling and turbulence of the water, which is common in most steam irons, is eliminated, since only sufficient heat transfer is provided to produce adequate rate of steam production. Spitting of the steam iron tends thereby to be eliminated, and the heat from the sole plate which would otherwise be wasted in boiling the water at an unnecessary rate, is conserved for pressing the material.

The threaded plug l3 has a central aperture IT in which is located a tube or tubular conduit l3 which extends upwardly towards the top of the chamber 53. Preferably the upper end of the tube 19 is closed by a small cap 8|, and there is an opening, o openings, 83 at the upper end of tube F9 to permit the passage of steam from the chamber 53 through tube E3 to the face 5 of the sole plate 3. There may be pressed into the lower recessed portion 85 of opening 69 in sole plate 3 an apertured disk or cup 81 which formsa continuous surface with the pressing face 5 of the sole plate 3. The presence of one or more apertures or openings 89 in the cup 8 permits the steam to be discharged to the material underneath the iron'and also to a channel 9| extending forwardly of cup 81 toward the point of the steam iron I. Sockets 93 in the plug 13 are for use in cooperation with a wrench for removing the plug I3 from the lower end 35 of chamber 53, 'or for adjusting its position.

The upper end of chamber 53 has a closure member or cap 35 which is externally threaded at its lowerend 91 and has a flange 93 which seals the upper endof the tubular portion 63 of chamber 53. The upper end of the cap 35 may have a configuration which adapts it to be easily engaged by a wrench, so that the cap may be removed when desired. An inlet to chamber 53 is provided at the end of passageway IOI incap 93, which passageway interconnects with passageways I03 leading to the steam dome 23. The closure member or cap 35 also carries a depending tubular member I35, which has its lower end opening at the lower end of chamber 53, slightly above the upper surface of plug I3. The tube discharges through a tubular member or nozzle I B! adjacent, and at right angles, to the inlet of chamber 53. It will be seen that the tubular member or nozzle I3! extends slightly into the path of the inlet end of passageway Ill I. The passage of steam into chamber 53 causes a partial Vacuum adjacent nozzle I01 and causes said nozzle or tubular member I01, in conjunction with tubular member I35, to act as an atomizer with respect to any water which may have collected on the top surface of the plug I3 adjacent the lower open end of tubular member I05. It will be noted that the aperture 83 at the upper end of tubular member 19 and the lower open end of tubular member '59 are greater in cross sectional area than the conduits I03 or II.

So that water in the boiler will not readily enter the passageways I03 in case the steam iron is held vertically with its-point down, a bafilememher I 08- formin'g a'pocket I 09 by its walls is placed within the boiler 25 to-render more difficult the passage of water into conduits I03. If the front end of the iron is tipped down a substantial amount, the baflie member I08 is adapted'to collect in its pocket most of the water to the rear of it,- so that the remaining water at the-front end will be of insufficient volume torise up high enough to enter passageways msleading to the interior of the superheater chamber 53. I-t-will be observed that the bafile I 08' extends. upwardly almost to the upper wall portion 45 of the-boiler from the bottom wall 43, and it extends substantially across the boiler 25 while yet permitting clearance between itself and the sides of the boiler, so that water at thefront and rear of the boiler may be in. communication.

I shall now describe the operation of the steam iron illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The cap 33 for the steam dome and filler tube 29 is first removed and water is introduced through the aperture 3| and steam. domer29 to the boiler '35 to a level-approximately that indicated by the dot-dash lines in Figure 1. The cap 33-is then replaced and tightly secured in position, and the electric cord is then plugged into a socket'connected with asource of electrical energy, and the manually controlled handle I'5- for the thermostatic control I3 is turned to aposition indicating the desired temperature towhich the operator wishes to heat the sole plate 3. The heating element 1 immediately begins to heat the sole plate 3, and some heat is transmitted from the sole plate through such portion of the boiler as may be in contact with the periphery of the sole plateana across the air space 55, or through insulation placed in space 55, to the bottomof the boiler. Heat is also transmitted to the plug "I3 by means of the head of said.- plug-contacting the shoulder I5 on the sole plate, and thence through the threaded connection to the lower end 650i chamber 53, and is transmitted through the spacer ring II to the reduced end 65-ofthe chamber 53 and to the bottom wall 43 of the boiler 25. Heat passes up the wall of the tubular portion'63 of the chamber 53 and the water surrounding said chamber becomes heated. The water immediately surrounding the tubular portion 63 becomes heatedto the boiling point first, and. steam begins to be generated within the boiler 25 andpasses upwardly along the tubular portion 63 of chamber 53- into. the steam dome 29. When pressure inexcess of. at.- mospheric pressure has been generatedwithinthe boiler 25 thesteam'. passes through passageways I03 and I I.in the cap 95 of chamber 53.to the inside of said chamber andin so doing steamfiows past the tubularoutlet or nozzle liliwhichis carried by the cap 95, and creates a partial vacuum or suction in the tubes I: and I01. The steam which. enters the chamber 53 contacts the inner heated walls of the chamber and becomes superheated andfiows through aperture 83 in the tubular member 79-, which is heatedlby plug T3,.and through :said tubular member. and heatedplug. T3 to the cup-shaped. member. 8 11 .F'urther. heat is therefore transmitted-by the tube (Sand the plug 73- tothesuperheated steam just beforeit is discharged. The superheated. steam is discharged through the aperture 89 of the cup shapedmember 81 and along the passageway or channel. 9'I at the forward. endof the iron tothe materiaLtd be pressed, which lies .beneaththe i'roIL. Thesuper- 8- heated'steam: contains less water per unit of volumethandoes the wet steam inthe boiler 25. Because the steamissuperheated, it is transmitted-a greater distance before releasing its water by condensation, and a. larger area of the material is" therefore dampened as the iron moves along.

Since. excessive. amounts of'heat are not transmitted to the boiler from the sole plate 3 and heating element 7-, a uniform and steady how of superheated steam passes from the boiler to the pressing face 5 of the sole plate 3. If, however, upon initially being heated, some of the steam which enters the chamber 53- condenses, the water" will be drawn by gravity to the bottom of the chamber where it-willsettle upon the upper sur face of the plug 73 which isbeing heated,.if the condensate isv not sooner vaporized by contact with the walls of the tubular portion 63". Water which settles upon the plug 73 will in many instances be immediately flashed to steam. and, if not, will be heated to a temperature which will shortly convert it to steam. Likewise, if slugs of water enter the passageways I03 and- I01, the water will descend to the bottom of the chamber where it is trapped}, and will then be heated by the plug 13'. Further, to assist in converting any trapped water in the chamber 53 to steam there is the conduit 1'05 andv conduit I01 which, with thesteam entering, from passageway I0I', serves to draw water from. the surface of plug I3 upwardly and to spray itout of'the tubular'mem her or nozzle lsll", so that it is atomized, that is, broken up into small droplets or vapor,- which vapor is then broughtv into contact with the heated inner walls of the chamber 53" and is thereby more easily and more quickly brought to a temperature at which the water will be converted to steam. It will be seen, therefore, that not a drop' of water willpass tothe'pressing face of the sole plate. 3" and excessively wet" the material which is to be pressed. Furthermore, since the chamber 5'3 acts both' as a trap and as a superheater chamber; the steam which is being emitted from'sa'id chamber throughthe conduit 19 is thinner (i. e., has less water per unit of volume) and its watercontent is more easily'dispersed over a larger area before it changes from the gaseous state to th'e'liquid state.

Although all of" the small conduits orpassage ways of chambert s are little subject to incrustation by contact with raw water, and hence will tend to remain clean a long time, they'are-removable from the steam iron. Conduits IN and I03, together with the conduits I05- and I011 are removable when the'upper closure member 9'5 is unthreaded from thechamber 53 and withdrawn through the aperture 3| in the steam dome, following removal of cap 33; The tubular member,

19 is removable with the screw plug 73; Since the aperture 31 in the steam dome islarge; the boiler may be easily filled or emptied; and the interior of the boiler may bequickly dried out when it is stored away following use;

Referring now toFigureB', it will be seen that a modified form of superheater chamber 5311 may be employed; wherein. the lower end 6501 has a beveled surface 643 adapted to seat on a beveled surfaceof the sole'plate 3a, and has an-integral bottom wall 58' through which steam passes by means of the tubular conduit 79a; The integral flange 67a of chamber 53a is welded to the bottom wall 43a of the boiler andholds the boiler in space'd'relati'on with respect to the sol'eplate3d by reason of thescrews, such as screw 10, which pass through the sole: plate 3" and engage the flange 61a. It will be appreciated that the chamber 53a may be constructed in other ways in order to secure together the boiler and sole plate 3a. It will be observed that conduit 19a extends 1 upwardly through chamber 53a and opens into numeral 53b. In this form of chamber the atom:

izer structure is omitted and the inlet passageway Hill) has connected to it, a'conduit or tube I02 which has an open end discharging adjacent the bottom of chamber 531) above the upper surface of the threaded plug 132;. The outlet 36 of the chamber 53?) includes passageways 82 andB-d in the screw plug 732) and the tubular conduit 85 which is held in a passageway lib in the plug 1%. The open end of the conduit 86 is adjacent the upper end of chamber 531). Since the conduit 02 connected with the inlet of the chamber 53b discharges adjacent the bottom of the chamber, and since the conduit 86 connected with the outlet Bil of chamber 831) has its open end within the chamber at the upper portion thereof, drops of water which are carried over fromthc boiler into chamber 53b through the conduit H32 will be trapped upon the top surface of the screw plug '53?) to be heated and convertedto steam and will be unable to pass over as liquid into conduit 86 and thence to the outlet 89. The steam issuing from heated conduit 86 and passing through the screw plug 732) and its passageways 84 and 82 will be further heated, since the plug i327 draws its heat from the heated sole plate 31).

As was the case in the preferred form of steam iron illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 there is a heat surface of the bottom wall 63?) of the boiler. The lower end '65!) of chamber 53b is in heat conducting relation to the heating element (not shown) through contact with spacerring 'Hb, which in turn contacts the sole plate 322, and also through threaded contact of the lower end 65b of chamber 53b with the plug 131), said plug in turn having contact through its head with the shoulder 15b in the sole plate 3h; Consequently, the chamber 531) is adapted to carry heat to the water within the boiler and, by its inner walls, to the steam which is present in the chamber 531), and also is adapted to heat the inlet conduit I02. Conduit 86 carried by the screw plug 132: is thereby also heated as are the passageways 82 and 84 in said plug. It will be observed that the shoulder 6127 at thelower reduced end 651) of chamber 53b seats against the upper surface of the bottom wall 431) of the boiler and in conjunction with the threaded plug l3b which has its head bearing against the shoulder 55b in the sole plate, secures the boiler and sole plate together in substantially the same manner as that illustrated in the steam iron of Figures 1 and 2. The chamber 53b may be welded, as at 88, where its shoulder bib engages the bottom wall 43b of the boiler. It will be apparent that removal of the upper closure member 9513 and the screw plug 1% at the bottom of chamber 531) will serve to remove the various conduits from the steam iron so that they and the chamber 53b may be examined, replaced, or cleaned if necessary.

Referring now to Figure 5, there will be seen a modified form of superheater chamber 530 which has an upper closure member or cap 95c and a lower closure member in the form of a screw plug 130. The head of the plug 730 bears against the shoulder l5c in the sole plate to, and by its threaded connection with the lower reduced end 650 of the chamber 53c transmits heat from the heated sole plate through the plug 130 to the end 650 of the chamber 530. A heat conducting spacer ring I ic is interposed between the top: surface of the sole plate 30 and the under surface of the bottom wall @30 of the boiler so that heat may be transferred from the heated sole plate 30 through the ring Hz: to the lower reduced end 650 of chamber 530 and to the bottom wall 430 of the boiler. A shoulder tie at the lower reduced end 650 of chamber 53c bears against the upper surface of the bottom wall 530 of the boiler and the head of the screw plug 730 bears against the shoulder tie in sole plate 30, whereby the boiler and sole plate are connected together in spaced relation.

A channel Sil is formed in the uppersurface of the screw plug 530, and therefore provides additional surface area for transmitting 'heat from the plug F30 to any water or water vapor trapped on the upper surface of the plug. Disposed substantially centrally of the 'plug 130 is an aperture 170 in which is positioned atube 860 which extends upwardly within the chamber 530 and opens at the upper portion'of said chamber. The lower end extends through the plug 730 so that steam passing from the chamber 530 through the conduit 86c and plug 130 is additionally heated by said heated plug before the steam is discharged from'the outlet ate at the bottom surface of the plug 73c. lhe upper closure member or cap 950 has a plurality of passageways H130 extendingradially from a central conducting spacer ring '5 lb interposed between i the top surface of the sole plate 3b and the under passageway iilic and a tubular conduit M320 is fitted within the latter passageway. Conduit i030 extends downwardly from thecapfjfibcr a short distance and then is offset to 'a sidelof the chamber and extends downwardly and discharges into the channel 99 in thetop surface of the screw plug 130. It will be readily apparent that removal of the closure cap 950 and of the screw plug will cause removal of all the tubular conduits so that they may be inspected or replaced if necessary. If desired, the {chamher 530 may be secured to the bottom wall 430 of the boiler by welding or soldering the two parts together as at 88c.

It may be observed that forms several functions. The outer cylindrical wall which is in heat conducting relation to the sole plate and thus to the'heating element is a thermal conductive (metallic) path for-heating the raw water in the boiler so that steam may be generated. This functioncould be performed by a metallic plug or connection without involving the superheater function.

The second function of the superheater is to serve as a trap for intercepting any liquid drops or slugs. This is a mechanical separating function. However, it is intimately related with the true superheater function of adding heat to the wet steam to raise it to a temperature in excess of the temperature at which wet steam will'form under the prevailing pressure. Since the trapping of liquid, i. e., separation of'liquid from steam, is performed in the superheater, the

the superheater per trapped liquid will not be permitted to accumulate, but willbe changed to steam and delivered with superheat added. This is performed my device because the surfaces on which liquid is trapped and sprayed .(i. e., the top face ofiplug .13 and the walls 63) are heated primarily by conduction, and in part by radiation, from the sole plate, but the final surface over which the steam is discharged, i. e., tube 19 and plug 13, receive heat by conduction through a shorter path of higher heat conductivity. In normal continuous operation the superheater chamber .will contain but little moisture, i. e., actual liquid, .and hence the plug '13 and tube 19 will be substantially hotter than the wallsliiiincontact with the-water in the boiler. But if liquid in the form of condensate orslugs does appear in the inside of thesuperheater the trapping and vaporization of such liquid is automatically performed without chilling the -superheater surface to the point of ineffectiveness.

The trapping function is performed Whether the atomizer is or is not utilized. The atomizer is a refinement which is designed to break up any substantial body of trapped liquid and .to ,keep it broken up until it is actually vaporized so that the su perheater function will be less interfered with while vaporization of trapped liquid is 'be- ,ing efi'ect-ed. By taking 01f the top surface of the thermal plug 13 anysubstantial body of'trapped liquid and sprayingitupon the side walls '63 heat .is taken from the walls 63 to vaporize liquid internally. Thus the refinement consisting of the ,internal atomizer produces a refinement of op- .eration of the device, but it is not essential to the performance of the -localized steam production and simultaneous .trapping and superheating which my device performs ,as above indi- .cated.

Another function which the superheater performs is to secure the boiler and sole plate together mechanically and thereby to avoid additional fastening means. In addition, the superheater chamber forms a portion of the wall of the boiler.

Although 'I have illustrated the features of my invention embodied in a steam iron for household use, it will be apparent that my invention has wider application, and I do not intend to belimited to the illustrated preferred embodiment, except in so far as the appended claims are so limited. It will also be appreciated that .all references to water, and steam, are intended to embrace other fluids, and gaseous states thereof, which would be suitable for employment in a pressing iron.

Iclaim:

1. Ina steam iron, in combination, asole plate *having a pressing face, heating means in heat conducting relation-with the sole plate, a :boiler adapted to hold water, means includinga chamher for conducting steam from the boiler to the pressing face of .thesoleplate, an inlet to said chamber and an outlet, a surface 'within said chamber for collecting water trapped therein, a conduit leading from a point adjacent said surface and terminating adjacent the inlet whereby collected water may be atomized by steam entering the chamber th ou h the inlet.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the surface within the chamber is a surface .of a closure element for said chamber, and said :element in heat conducting relation with said heating means and transmits heat to the walls f said chamber and thence to the water inlthe boiler.

. a '12 "3. 111.1 asteam iron, in combination, a, sole plate having a pressing face; heating meansin heat conducting relation with said sole plate; a boiler adapted to hold water;-means, incl-udingasuperheater chamber in series, for conducting steam to the pressing face of the sole plate; saidsuperheater chamber having an inlet adjacent its bottom wall of the chamber has a channel and the first mentionedconduit discharges into said 1 channel.

5. 'In a steam iron, in combination, a sole plate having a pressing face; heating means in heat conducting relation with said sole plate; a boiler adapted to hold water; 'means, including a supe'rheater chamber in series, for conducting steam tothe pressing faceof the sole plate; said super-heater chamber having an inlet adjacent its upper end anol'an outlet adjacent its lowerend, a conduit in said chamber connected at one end with the outlet and opening at the other end adjacent the upper end .of said chamber with its .openingout of alignment with theinlet of said chamber.

ti/The combination of claim 8 wherein the bottom wall of' the chamber comprises a separate element which is adapted .to transmit heat from the sole plate tothe walls efvtheuehamber. and to -:the conduit connected with the outlet :O said chamber.

"7. For use in a'steam iron having a solez-plote, a boiler and means for supplying heat to the plate and boiler, means :for transmitting steam from the boiler to the face of the solepl-ate, said steam transmitting means including a superheater chamber, a top closure rnernber for the chamber, an inlet passageway in saidtop-elosure member, a bottom closure membena-n outletpassageway in said bottom closure member, -a first conduit in said chamber connected with said outlet passageway and extending upwardly from the bottom of the chamberand opening at the upper portion of said-chamber, and .awsecondgcon- .duit in said chamber connected withsaid inlet ;.passa geway and extending downwardly from the topof the chamber and opening below the upper end of the first conduit, said closure members being removable'from-the chamber.

8. .For use in a steam .iron having a-sole plate, a boiler and means for supplying ,heat to .the plate and boiler, means for transmitting steam j-fI' Om the boiler to the face of the sole plate, said :means includin a uperheater chamber, atop .closure' -nember for the chamber, an .inlet ,pas-

heating means for said .sole plate, an openingin the sole plate, a-boiler adapted to hold water, a steam dome for said boiler, a vertically extending superheater chamber positioned in said opening in the sole plate in heat conducting relation and extending through the boiler and into the steam dome, a plug forming the bottom wall of said chamber and closing the opening in said sole plate, said plug serving to connect the chamber to the sole plate, and being in heat conducting relation with the sole plate, an inlet to said chamber, an outlet for said chamber leading to the face of the sole plate, the top surface of said plug being adapted to collect and heat water in the chamber, and atomizing means for removing the water from said surface and spraying it over additional areas of the inner heated surface of the chamber.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the outlet of the superheater chamber is through the heated plug and there is a tubular member connected with said outlet and opening at the top portion of the chamber.

11. The combination of claim 9 wherein the steam dome of the boiler serves as a filler tube for the boiler and has a removable cap at its upper end and wherein the superheater chamber has a removable cap containing the inlet to the chamber and supporting the atomizing means.

12. In a steam iron having a sole plate with an opening therethrough and a pressing face, means for heating said sole plate, and a boiler having a water space and a steam space thereabove and an opening in registry with and adapted to communicate with the opening in the sole plate, with said boiler beingsupported with its bottom wall in spaced relation above said sole plate, and with insulating means between the sole plate and the bottom wall of the boiler to minimize the transfer of heat from the heated sole plate to said bottom wall, the improvement which comprises means for delivering to the water in said boiler limited amounts of heat from said heated sole plate sufficient for heating the water to steam without producing undesired turbulence of the water in theboiler, said means comprising wall means defining a hollow chamber extending through the opening in the boiler and into its Water space and having an opening communicating with the steam space in the boiler and an opening communicating directly with the opening in the sole plate, said hollow chamber having its lower wall means in limited heat conducting contact with said heated sole plate with the area of contact providing substantially the only path of heat transference from the heated sole plate to the walls of said chamber and thence to the water in the boiler for heating said water to steam.

13. In a steam iron having a sole plate with wall means defining an opening therethrough and having a pressing face, heating means for said sole plate, a boiler having a water space and a steam space thereabove and disposed in spaced insulated relation to said sole plate and having an opening through the bottom wall of said boiler, with the opening through the sole plate being aligned with the opening through said boiler, the improvement which comprises shoulder means in said opening in the sole plate, a hollow chamber including vertical upper wall means and lower wall means of reduced diameter, said chamber extending through the water space in the boiler, shoulder means being defined between said upper and lower wall means with the shoulder means bearing against and being connected to the bottom wall of the boiler around the opening in said boiler, said chamber having an aperture communicating with the steam space of the boiler, upstanding bearing means disposed around the opening of said sole plate on the top thereof, the bottom of said boiler resting on said bearing means and the reduced lower wall of said chamber engaging the side of said bearing means and extending through the opening in said sole plate but out of contact with the wall means which defines said opening in the sole plate, an apertured plug having bearingmeans adapted to engage said shoulder in the opening of said sole plate but being otherwise out of contact with the wall means defining the opening in the sole plate, said plug being connected with said chamber and forming the lower wall thereof and serving to transmit steam through its aperture to the sole plate, said plug holding the chamber and sole plate together in spaced relation, the heat supplied to said boiler for heating the water therein to steam being supplied from the heated sole plate in a limited amount to prevent turbulence in the water, said heat traveling via the apertured plug and said chamber where the bearing means of the plug engages the shoulder in the opening of the sole plate and where the lower wall means of the chamber and the bottom wall of the boiler engage said upstanding bearing means which is disposed around the opening of said sole plate.

14. In a steam iron, a sole plate having a pressing face, wall means defining an opening through said sole plate, a shoulder in said opening formed by the wall means, an apertured plug adapted to close said opening and to bear against said shoulder, heating means in heat conducting relationship with the sole plate, a boiler adapted to hold water and positioned in spaced relation above said sole plate, said boiler having a water space and a steam space thereabove, wall means defining a chamber connected with said boiler and having an opening communicating with the aperture in said plug and a second opening communicating with said steam space for conducting steam from the boiler to the pressing face of the iron, means including said chamber and said apertured plug in limited heat conducting relation with the heating means, said chamber extending through the water space in said boiler and being adapted to heat water therein to steam, said chamber and plug being connected together and adapted to hold the boiler and sole late together in spaced relation.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein the top surface of the apertured plug forms the bottom wallof the chamber and wherein a tube is connected at one end with the aperture of said plug and extends vertically upwardly in said chamber and has an opening at its upper end out of alignment with said second opening of the chamber whereby any water carried over from the boiler to said chamber will be trapped on said heated plug for further heating.

HENRY MAYKE PER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,027,767 Deems Jan. 14, 1936 2,230,815 Sebo Feb. 4, 1941 2,279,179 Schreyer Apr. 7, 1942 2,432,205 Morton Dec. 9, 1947 2,437,571 Waage Mar. 9, 1948 2,441,916 Busch et al May 18, 1948 2,456,490 Busch et a1 Dec. 14, 1948 

